What should I do if my son is failing school, and is always depressed. Is this a cry for help.?

Question

He is in the 7 grade is 13 and is always writing depressing notes in his notebook under the bed. He is unaware that I have been looking at it. What should I do besides getting a counselor.

Answer 1

Middle school has to be the hardest time for a child. Let him know that you are there for him. Talk to him as often as possible. Talk about his grades and what he thinks the problem is and how to come up with a solution. Ask him if he thinks there is something you can do to help him study etc.. Talk to his teachers and with the school counselor. Find local help for his failing subjects. Let him know he is not the only child that has gone through this, but that he can not give up on himself and needs to know that this is only temporary and will get better, if he is willing to work at it and point out to him all the good things he accomplishes.

Answer 2

Your son is discouraged and feeling hopeless. Besides getting him to a counselor ASAP, give encouragement anywhere you can. Do not praise him, though. Praise is more hurtful than helpful, and he will rely more heavily on other people to define his self-worth. If he enjoys drawing, instead of saying, "Wow! That's a great picture!" say, "I am very glad that you enjoy drawing!" That way you give him the encouragement to be proud of or happy with himself. If he can provide his own feelings of self-worth, it should help with the depression. A counselor should be able to help you figure out why he is failing at school. If he has always done poorly, a battery of tests will most likely be ordered to determine if there is a learning disorder. If the failing is only recent, it is may be linked to the depression in some way. He needs to see a counselor very soon, though. I recommend one with a background in family counseling, because when a child is discouraged, it is the whole family's issue. I wish you the best.

Answer 3

Your son is HIDING A LOT FROM YOU. You need to call someone right away. Keep the notes and read them to the counceler on call. He is failing and it could be cause from ADHD, being bullied, feeling stupid, you have no idea what kids do to each other mentally these days. Do not leave him alone and know where he is at all time. I ended up taking my daughter to a rispite home for a weekend, getting her counceling and held her back a year until she was more developed to handle school pressure and cruel kids. She did not finish out her school year and is now on meds for ADHD and depression. It has been a long road, I feel for you and I will pray that you make it through this. PLEASE DO NOT LET HIM TELL YOU IT IS A PASSING THING AND DO NOT GIVE UP. SHOW HIM LOVE AND THAT HE IS GOING TO GET HELP. MAKE SURE HE KNOWS WHO THE PARENT IS AND DO NOT LET HIM GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT SOMEONE YOU KNOW VERY WELL. KEEP 24 HOUR SUPERVISION. TAKE THIS SERIOUS. iF THEY DO NOT WANT TO HELP YOU TALK TO SCHOOL COUNCELOR, IF THAT DOES NOT HELP CALL EVERYWHERE YOU HAVE TO UNTIL YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. hAVE HIM TESTED TO SEE IF HE HAS A LEARNING DISABILITY. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR SON............REMEMBER TO PRAY. JESUS LOVES YOU AND YOUR SON.........LOVE DEANA

Answer 4

Indeed, this may be a cry for help. But, at the age indicated it could just be puppy love or the trauma experienced by some children just entering middle/jr. high school. Why not ask? If the latter is indicated, make an appointment for your child to see the school counselor. If (shortly thereafter) you are still concerned take your child to a medical professional. He/she will possibly recommend medication for depression and may also refer your child to a psychologist. At this stage it is time to discontnue seeking help from the school counsleor. Best of luck.

Answer 5

The following is designed to help you understand what your son is going through, and how to figure out how to help him:

What Hope for Today's Youths? :
- The Tragedy of Youthful Deaths
- Suicide--A Scourge of young People
- When Hope and Love Vanish
- When They Return
- Motivations for Suicide
- Some Indicators of Suicide
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/1998/9/8/article_01.htm *

Understanding Mood Disorders
- Tormented Minds
- Living With a Mood Disorder
- Hope for Sufferers
- How Others Can Help
http://watchtower.org/library/g/2004/1/8/article_01.htm *

Life IS Worth Living! :
- A Worldwide Problem
- Why People Give Up on Life
- You CAN Find Help!
- How Can You Help Someone Who Seems Suicidal?
- "Will God Forgive Me for Feeling This Way?"
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2001/10/22/article_01.htm *

Hope---Where Can You Find It? :
- Does Hope Really Make a Difference?
- Why Do We Need Hope?
> You Can Fight Pessimism
> Where Can You Find REAL Hope?
http://watchtower.org/e/20040422/article_01.htm

I was suicidal at his age.
There is NO age limit.
You are Correct to take it Seriously!

(Many URLs on this^ site are undergoing modification. If & when these* do, their New URLs can be found by entering the title/subject in the search engine at:
http://watchtower.org/search/search_e.htm )

Answer 6

Awww, that is so sad! Yes it is a cry for help! Please support and help him get through this awful hard business!
I have listed some links below you may find of use.
God bless you and your son! :)
Oh and maybe you should take him to see a Psychiatrist, you may want to consider medication.
http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/issues/factdepression.html
http://www.therapistfinder.net/glossary/childhood-depression.html

Answer 7

Yes this cry for help.You should talk to or take him to a therapist.

Answer 8

you need to talk to your child right away. a kid in my class committed suicide when we were in 8th grade. so he isn't too young to think about suicide. yes, it's a cry for help!

Answer 9

He needs help. Please apologize to him for looking in his journal even as you explain that you were looking out for his best interests.